How to Use Mindfulness to Stop Negative Thinking

By Hank Klinger | Monday Monday Staff - 2016-10-02

Negative thinking is a common trait. It’s speculated that thoughts originate outside of our physical body. We’re more like transmitters so we can first use that awareness to separate ourselves from negative thoughts.

It’s important to remember that you are not your thoughts. According to Ekhart Tolle, spiritual leader and author of the Power of Now, you must learn to watch your thoughts. Think to yourself, “Here are my thoughts, and there I am watching them.”

This will allow you to see that your thoughts are not true and hold no power until you give them power. I suggest reading the Power of Now if you haven’t yet. It’s one of those books that will absolutely change your life. Armed with new knowledge about your thoughts, the following tips can help you achieve a different state of mind. One that is more calm, cool and collected.

Document Your Negative Thoughts

Once you are aware of the fact that you are not your thoughts, you can start to watch them as they come in. When negative thinking starts, record them. Ask yourself, “What emotion was I feeling prior to that thought?” Or you can also ask, “What was I doing that lead to that negative thought?”

Negative thoughts will attract more negative thoughts, but they usually will first come after a certain action. It could be something you ate, someone you were around who was negative, or even not getting enough sleep. Each of us is governed by a set of rituals or patterns we continually play out each day. Our patterns will affect us physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. When you start to document your negative thoughts, you can start to break up the patterns that lead to them.

Relax Your Body to Release Negative Thinking

It’s important to relax your body. Since people are composed of different parts of our being, our thoughts effect our physical body and vice versa. What we think, do, and say all affect each other. So if you can, relax, take deep focused breaths and attempt to let go. Letting go is easier when you accept that you are not your thoughts.

Focused breathing will oxygenate your blood, release endorphins in your brain and return you to source. Use breathing to your advantage since it’s free and you can do it anywhere.

Challenge Your Negative Thoughts

Next, challenge your thoughts. In cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), they teach you to challenge your thoughts and emotions. A good question to ask is, “What would I have to believe to believe this thought is true?”

Typically, you will receive an answer in the form of a negative belief. You can then say, “Today, I will challenge that belief.”

Remember, your beliefs are made up of countless situations in your life. Traumatic experiences, abuse, abandonment and social programming all attest to your beliefs. You can challenge them and begin to see new choices in your life. New choices can be as simple as choosing to perceive yourself or a situation in a different way.

Focus on the Polar Opposite of Your Negative Thought

The Law of Polarity is very real. In the book the Kybalion, based on the teachings of Hermes Trismegistis, the Law of Polarity is one of the Seven Natural Laws of the Universe. When you have a negative thought, there is always an opposite possibility.

By focusing on the polar opposite of a negative thought, you begin to give your brain new orders on what to focus on. Once again, this new focus will open up doorways to new possibilities.

Keep a Gratitude Journal

Next, grab a piece of paper and start to write out ten things you can be grateful for. If you feel or think you have nothing to be grateful for, write out ten things you would like to be grateful for. Nothing puts you closer to source than the cultivation of gratitude.

How to Raise Your Vibration

Lastly, raise your vibration. While I was going through therapy and training for NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), I was taught to never attempt a task until my energy levels were at a 90 or above. Raising your vibration can be as easy as jumping rope for 60 seconds. It can also be through listening to your favorite music or spending time with your favorite pet.

The lesson I learned was to write down 25 ways to raises your vibration that worked for you. And when you start to think negative or feel negative, take your list and start going through it until you start to feel and think better.

With enough practice, you can rewire your brain to start attracting more positive thoughts. It’s important you follow the tips as best you can. Within a few weeks you’ll see change. Within a few months, the change will be like nothing words can express.